Barbies And Kens, Let’s talk…

The sans-serif typeface used for writing the actors' names is Avant Garde Font. You are welcome. Now let’s talk about this movie…without spoilers?

So I went to watch Barbie, obviously for the design inspiration and to see the imaginary world created by the talented set, costumes and make-up designers. But what I was left with was a few chuckles, thought-provoking moments living in my brain rent-free and tears. Yes, I cried. And no, I wasn’t on my period. And if you haven’t cried, well, analyse this with yourself and maybe rewatch the movie again and think about all the women in your life and their points of view.

Lead hair and makeup artist for the movie, Ivana Primorac, was the person tasked with giving life to the beauty aesthetic of the denizens of Barbie Land. — nylon.com

The first name in the credits that I spotted was the Croatian make-up and hair artist Ivana Primorac. In my opinion, everyone was looking stunning. Even weird Barbie.

Be yourself. — Photo by Sandra Gabriel on Unsplash

Anyway, what is so special about this movie? Well, first for context I never had a Barbie doll, not for long that is. I got a bunch of dolls for one of my birthdays when I was little and they were all in one big bag (second-hand gifted). But after a few days of playing in the yard with them, and having them EVERYWHERE my grandpa one day woke up and decided to throw them all away. Yes, I cried a lot back then too. Later I got one teddy bear and that was the only toy I had.

So honestly I never got the full doll experience, and I do not know the types of Baries that exist, nor do I know who the heck Ken is. 😄And to be honest, for a Barie movie he got too much screen time. But I do understand the point the movie team wanted to make by showing both perspectives of the characters by switching the narrative.

Of course around the Barbie doll topic there are multiple layers:

• Gender roles
• Financial self-suficiency
• Unrealistic beauty standards
• Ken being an accessory for Barbie
• Races, cultural representation and more.

Topics touched on in the movie:

• Existential crisis and death
• Barbie